Horticulture’s occupational charity Perennial has merged with the Royal Fund for Gardeners’ Children.

The new organisation will be called Perennial but the Royal Fund for Gardener’s Children name will remain for some services.

RFGC (t/o £96,230) and Perennial (t/o £3m) stressed that the decision to merge was not driven by the need to save money, though cost savings will be achieved as a result.

A statement on Perennial’s website states: “The merger is not a cost-saving exercise - it is intended to improve our services for horticulturists and their children. There will be some savings on back-office and administration costs which will increase the proportion of funds available for gardeners' children. The merger was not, however, driven by the need to save money.”

Perennial's chairman Sir Roger Singleton added: "The welfare and interests of children has been at the heart of this decision; the merger will ensure a seamless service for the greater benefit of both the children and adults within any family that we help."